Dual flush toilet valve system

ABSTRACT

A flush regulator for a toilet tank for regulating the outflow therefrom through an outlet, said regulator including a valve without buoyancy, said valve adapted to close said outlet, a connector connected at one end to said valve and a body of buoyancy at another end of said connector above said valve, said valve adapted to close said outlet when the water level in said tank reaches the upper edge of said body of buoyancy and said buoyancy and valve fall to close said outlet wherein said toilet tank includes an overflow pipe wherein said body of buoyancy is connected to the overflow pipe by a plurality of attachment points and wherein the height of the body of buoyancy is varied by attaching the body of buoyancy using one of the plurality of attachment points so as to adjust the height of the body of buoyancy relative to said valve.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The following description relates generally to water saving devices forcisterns, and particularly relates to a regulator for a toilet tank forregulating the outflow of liquid through an outlet.

2. Background

Many existing toilet tanks and flush systems presently existing in NorthAmerica have been designed and installed many years ago when the supplyof fresh water was not much of a concern as it is in the present day.Generally speaking, the supply of fresh water and its purification is aconcern in today's society, especially related to the volume of waterbeing flushed. This concern is acute for organizations such as hotels,government bodies and other large organizations having many toilets usedby many people. Such organizations are concerned with the volume ofwater being used for environmental reasons as well as the cost of itsuse.

There have been a variety of systems and mechanisms been designed toaddress this issue. One current approach to a water saving device for aflush tank includes a floating body, a guide track on which the floatingbody is slideably mounted by a bracket, and a clip mounted to the guidetrack for snap fit around the stand pipe of the flush tank. The guidetrack is positioned so that the body is substantially directly above aflush valve of the flush tank, so that upon flushing the body willcontact and forcibly close the flush valve to save water. However, it isdifficult to adjust the setting for different volume of waters desired.

In another example, a dual mode flush valve assembly is selectivelyoperable in a full or partial flush mode for use with a toilet flushtank assembly including a flush actuator movable between a first andsecond position interconnected to a buoyant flush valve movable betweenan open and closed position, the dual mode flush valve assemblyincluding a flush valve actuator assembly movable between an upperbuoyant position, an intermediate full flush position and a lowerpartial flush position in combination with a flush valve controlassembly movable between a first and second position disposed toselectively engage the flush valve actuator assembly. In the firstposition, the flush valve actuator assembly is in the upper buoyantposition and the buoyant flush valve is in the closed position. When theflush actuator is moved from the first to second position for less thana predetermined period of time, moving the buoyant flush valve to theopen position, the flush valve actuator assembly moves downward to theintermediate full flush position to engage the flush valve controlassembly in the first position whereby the flush valve actuator assemblyis held in spaced relation relative to the buoyant flush valve toprovide the full flush mode. When the flush actuator is moved from thefirst to second position for more than the predetermined period of time,moving the buoyant flush valve to the open position and the flush valveactuator assembly to the second position, the flush valve actuatorassembly moves downward to the lower partial flush position to engagethe flush valve moving the buoyant flush valve to the closed position soas to provide a partial flush.

The current devices and methods present relatively complicatedstructures.

Consequently, it would be desirable to address one or more of thedeficiencies described above.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of one or more aspects inorder to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary isnot an extensive overview of all contemplated aspects, and is intendedto neither identify key or critical elements of all aspects nordelineate the scope of any or all aspects. Its sole purpose is topresent some concepts of one or more aspects in a simplified form as aprelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

According to various aspects, the subject innovation relates to systemsand/or methods that provide a flush valve with dual flushing volumesthat are easily operable.

In one aspect, a flush regulator for a toilet tank for regulating theoutflow therefrom through an outlet is disclosed, the regulatorincluding a valve without buoyancy, the valve adapted to close theoutlet, a connector connected at one end to the valve and a body ofbuoyancy at another end of the connector above the valve, the valveadapted to close the outlet when the water level in the tank reaches theupper edge of the body of buoyancy and the buoyancy and valve fall toclose the outlet wherein the toilet tank includes an overflow pipewherein the body of buoyancy is connected to the overflow pipe by aplurality of attachment points and wherein the height of the body ofbuoyancy is varied by attaching the body of buoyancy using one of theplurality of attachment points so as to adjust the height of the body ofbuoyancy relative to the valve.

In another aspect, a flush regulator is disclosed in a toilet tank forregulating the outflow therefrom through an outlet, the regulatorincluding a valve without buoyancy, the valve adapted to close theoutlet, a connector connected at one end to the valve and a body ofbuoyancy attached above the valve, the valve adapted to close the outletwhen the water level in the tank reaches the upper edge of the body ofbuoyancy and the buoyancy and valve fall to close the outlet; whereinthe valve and the body of buoyancy is guided by a guide.

In yet another aspect, a regulator for a toilet tank for regulating theoutflow of liquid through an outlet includes: (a) a valve for openingand closing the outlet; (b) means for locating the valve relative theoutlet; (c) moveable buoyancy means disposed for slideable displacementrelative the locating means for moving the valve from a closed positionto an open position to permit the liquid through the outlet; (d) whereinthe locating means is stationary relative the outlet and the buoyancymeans slides relative the locating means when the valve is open foroutflow of the liquid through the outlet; and (e) wherein the buoyancymeans comprises: (i) a member to slideably embrace the locating means;(ii) a buoyancy member selectively moveable relative to the slideablemember to adjust the level of flush of the liquid; and (f) wherein thelocating means comprises: (i) a generally cylindrical body having a holetherethrough; (ii) a retaining member having a bore therethrough forfrictionally receiving and retaining the cylindrical body.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the one or moreaspects comprise the features hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims. The following description andthe annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative aspects ofthe one or more aspects. These aspects are indicative, however, of but afew of the various ways in which the principles of various aspects maybe employed and the described aspects are intended to include all suchaspects and their equivalents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other sample aspects of the invention will be described in thedetailed description that follow, and in the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a parts view of a dual-flush valve configured in accordancewith one aspect of the current disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a cut-away diagram of the dual-flush valve of FIG. 1 installedin a toilet in accordance with one aspect of the current disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the dual-flush valve of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a diagram of an alternate version of the dual-flush valve ofFIG. 1.

In accordance with common practice, some of the drawings may besimplified for clarity. Thus, the drawings may not depict all of thecomponents of a given apparatus (e.g., device) or method. Finally, likereference numerals may be used to denote like features throughout thespecification and figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various aspects of the invention are described more fully hereinafterwith reference to the accompanying drawings. This invention may,however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construedas limited to any specific structure or function presented throughoutthis disclosure. Rather, these aspects are provided so that thisdisclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey thescope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Based on theteachings herein one skilled in the art should appreciate that that thescope of the invention is intended to cover any aspect of the inventiondisclosed herein, whether implemented independently of or combined withany other aspect of the invention. For example, an apparatus may beimplemented or a method may be practiced using any number of the aspectsset forth herein. In addition, the scope of the invention is intended tocover such an apparatus or method which is practiced using otherstructure, functionality, or structure and functionality in addition toor other than the various aspects of the invention set forth herein. Itshould be understood that any aspect of the invention disclosed hereinmay be embodied by one or more elements of a claim.

In one aspect of the disclosure, a water saving device in toilets isprovided that replaces single flush valves in systems using flapper-typetoilet flushing valves. The water saving device includes a dual flushvalve that allows two volumes of flushes: a first volume of flush when aflush handle is pressed and released; and a second, larger volume offlush when the flush handle is pressed and held. The water quantity ofthe first volume of flush is adjustable while installing the dual flushvalve. After adjustment the small flush will flush out constantly withthe same water quantity as adjusted.

FIG. 1 illustrates a dual flush system 100 that includes a valve shaft101, which is illustrated in FIG. 2 as installed in a toilet 200. FIG. 3illustrates a perspective view of the dual-flush system 100. Referringback to FIG. 1, an air chamber 109 is attached to the valve shaft 101,with a rope 111 actuating the dual flush system 100 through a ropeattachment handle 132. When pulling the rope 111, which may beimplemented with a chain or water resistant material, upwards with ahandle 202, a valve 107 will open and start the flushing procedure.

The air chamber 109 holds the valve 107 in the open position by itsbuoyancy until the water level has reached it. When the handle 202 isreleased, the valve 107 will close by its lost of buoyancy. Adjustmentof this level is achieved by turning the air chamber 109 to disengagetwo brackets on air chamber 109 (not shown) from a plurality of notches101 b, moving air chamber 109 up or down on the various levels definedby the plurality of notches 101 b as seen in FIG. 3, turning air chamber109 back until the two brackets attach to another notch in the pluralityof notches 101 b of the valve shaft 101.

In one aspect of the disclosure, the air chamber 109 is clamped upon thevalve shaft 101. Adjustment of the water quantity of a flush is achievedby moving the location of the air chamber 109 up to provide more flushvolume, or down for less flush volume. The position of the air chamber109 is hand adjustable. The valve shaft 101 also provides an overflowfeature wherein an opening at the top of the valve shaft 101 allowswater to flow into it. This double function, overflow feature at thecenter of the valve shaft 101 is another important feature of the dualflush system 100.

The valve shaft 101 is guided by a guide rod 102, which is cross-shapedin one aspect of the disclosure, on a center line of the valve shaft101. The guide rod 102 allows the valve shaft 101 to provide itsoverflow feature. In other aspects of the disclosure, another shape maybe used as long as the cross-section of the cross-shaped rod 102 and thevalve shaft 101 includes space for water to flow through. The upwardsmovement of the valve shaft 101 is limited by a blocking ring 110.Incorporated into the blocking ring 110 is an angle pipe 122. To refillthe bowl, an S-shaped water trap is used after flushing while refillingthe toilet water tank. In one aspect as disclosed herein, the angle pipe122 of the blocking ring 110 is to be connected with the refilling valveby a rubber hose (not shown) to a water supply.

In one aspect of the disclosure, the guide rod 102 is attached to abottom piece 103 to attach to a bottom portion 104 of the valve shaft101. The bottom portion 104 is installed on a bottom of a water tank 106using a rubber gasket 108 and a nut 105. The dual flush system 100 istightened against the water tank 106 by the rubber gasket 108. The valve107 is implemented by a tapered rubber gasket 127 assembled to the valveshaft 101 by a sliced ring 148.

In an aspect of the disclosure, it is possible to adjust the height ofthe valve shaft 101 by shortening it. To do this the valve shaft may becut at any of the locations at the top of the valve shaft 101, asindicated by the plurality of notches 101 a. Thus, in accordance, theposition of the blocking ring 110 may have to be adjusted to follow thevalve shaft 101 downwards.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the dual-flush system 100,where a pull knob 451 is used to actuate a pulling rod assembly 411. Theelements of FIG. 4 that are not set forth separately and describeddifferently perform the same functions as identified in FIG. 1, with thereference numbers of the items in FIG. 4 being paired to the referencenumbers of the items in FIG. 1 (e.g., the air chamber 409 of FIG. 4performs the same functions as the air chamber 109 of FIG. 1).

In this disclosed aspect, a knob 451 actuates the dual flush system 100through a control rod 111 attached to a rod attachment portion 132. Theknob 451 is threaded through a water tank lid 406 a and a top bowportion 450 using a tube 421. The top bow portion 450 is attached to abottom bow portion 452 through a bow attachment 454. The bottom bowportion 452 is attached to a water tank 406 b.

The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in theart to fully understand the full scope of the disclosure. Modificationsto the various configurations disclosed herein will be readily apparentto those skilled in the art. Thus, the claims are not intended to belimited to the various aspects of the invention described herein, but isto be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of claims,wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean“one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one ormore.” Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “some” refers toone or more. All structural and functional equivalents to the elementsof the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that areknown or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the artare expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to beencompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein isintended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether suchdisclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is tobe construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph,unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or,in the case of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase“step for.”

What is claimed is:
 1. A flush regulator for a toilet tank forregulating the outflow therefrom through an outlet, said regulatorincluding a valve without buoyancy, said valve adapted to close saidoutlet, a connector connected at one end to said valve and a body ofbuoyancy at another end of said connector above said valve, said valveadapted to close said outlet when the water level in said tank reachesthe upper edge of said body of buoyancy and said buoyancy and valve fallto close said outlet wherein said toilet tank includes an overflow pipewherein said body of buoyancy is connected to the overflow pipe by aplurality of attachment points and wherein the height of the body ofbuoyancy is varied by attaching the body of buoyancy using one of theplurality of attachment points so as to adjust the height of the body ofbuoyancy relative to said valve.
 2. The flush regulator as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said body of buoyancy is installed on said connectingrod by a notched assembly between said body of buoyancy and saidoverflow pipe.
 3. The flush regulator as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidbody of buoyancy is installed on said overflow pipe by a screw threadbetween said body of buoyancy and said overflow pipe.
 4. The flushregulator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body of buoyancy isfrictionally clamped upon an intermediate socket to install the body ofbuoyancy at different levels.
 5. A flush regulator for use in a toilettank for regulating the outflow therefrom through an outlet, saidregulator including a valve without buoyancy, said valve adapted toclose said outlet, a connector connected at one end to said valve and abody of buoyancy attached above said valve, said valve adapted to closesaid outlet when the water level in said tank reaches the upper edge ofsaid body of buoyancy and said buoyancy and valve fall to close saidoutlet; wherein said valve and said body of buoyancy is guided by aguide.
 6. The flush regulator as claimed in claim 5 wherein said toilettank includes an overflow pipe to which said body of buoyancy andwherein a location on which said overflow pipe said body of buoyancy isconnected is varied by turning said body of buoyancy to engage aplurality of attachment points so as to adjust a distance between saidbody of buoyancy relative said valve.
 7. The flush regulator as claimedin claim 5 wherein said guide is clamped into a clip connecting saidguide with a water inlet hose, said clip provided with an elastic areaso that said guide is held fast at all installed radial positions duringfurther operation of said flush regulator.
 8. The regulator for a toilettank for regulating the outflow of liquid through an outlet comprising:(a) a valve for opening and closing said outlet; (b) means for locatingsaid valve relative said outlet; (c) moveable buoyancy means disposedfor slideable displacement relative said locating means for moving saidvalve from a closed position to an open position to permit said liquidthrough said outlet; (d) wherein said locating means is stationaryrelative said outlet and said buoyancy means slides relative saidlocating means when said valve is open for outflow of said liquidthrough said outlet; and (e) wherein said buoyancy means comprises: (i)a member to slideably embrace said locating means; (ii) a buoyancymember selectively moveable relative said slideable member to adjust thelevel of flush of said liquid; and (f) wherein said locating meanscomprises: (i) a generally cylindrical body having a hole therethrough;(ii) a retaining member having a bore therethrough for frictionallyreceiving and retaining said cylindrical body.
 9. The regulator asclaimed in claim 8 wherein retaining member comprises fastening meansfor fastening said retaining member to said overflow pipe.
 10. Theregulator as claimed in claim 9 wherein said hole in said generallycylindrical body is eccentrically disposed.
 11. The regulator as claimedin claim 10 wherein said cylindrical body is frictionally rotatablewithin said bore of said retaining member for adjusting the distancebetween the centre line of said hole and rod to the centre line of saidoverflow pipe so as to position said valve over said outlet.
 12. Theregulator as claimed in claim 11 wherein said cylindrical body includesa cylindrical extension having a diameter smaller than said cylindricalbody.
 13. The regulator as claimed in claim 12 wherein said hole throughsaid cylindrical body extends through said extension.
 14. The regulatoras claimed in claim 13 wherein said rod is disposed for slideablemovement through said hole and said rod is connected to said valve andsaid slideable member.
 15. The regulator as claimed in claim 14 whereinsaid rod is fastened to said valve by a ball and socket joint.
 16. Theregulator as claimed in claim 15 which is adapted to be retrofitted toany existing toilet and wherein the level of flush is adjusted by movingsaid buoyancy member relative said slideable member.